Hava Leipzig Holzhauer

President and CEO, Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona

Hava Leipzig Holzhauer is the President and CEO of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA), a role she assumed in December 2023. Her background blends law, nonprofit leadership, and Jewish community building. She began her career as an attorney specializing in employment and civil rights law before transitioning into nonprofit leadership over a decade ago. She served as the statewide director for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Florida, then became the founding Director of the Konar Center for Tolerance and Jewish Studies at Nazareth University in Rochester, NY where she taught Civil Rights Law among other rights-based curricula. Most recently, she held the role of Interim President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. Holzhauer is also a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program, a Wexner Fellow in gender equity and safety, and an alum of Hadassah’s Leadership Academy.

Since joining JPSA, Holzhauer has led with a collaborative, community-driven approach, especially amid the rise of antisemitism following the events of October 2023. Under her leadership, JPSA launched the Center for Jewish Resilience (CJR), which focuses on building a comprehensive community-based security strategy, educating the public on antisemitism, and strengthening allyship and outreach. Her leadership is marked by warmth and integrity, often described using the Yiddish terms “menschlichkeit” (humaneness) and “Yiddishkeit” (Jewish spirit). Holzhauer’s cross-sector experience continues to shape her work in fortifying Jewish life and resilience in Southern Arizona and beyond.